what to do to vehicle before long trip

Maintenance

10 essential checks before a long car journey

With the right preparation, long automobile journeys tin can exist something to look frontwards to. Hither'due south our guide to making long trips as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

Whether it'south to visit relatives, proceed holiday or travel for piece of work, a long motorcar journeying is something many of us do regularly. As with most things, preparation is the key to making sure that everything goes smoothly.

Here are our top 10 pre-journey checks to help you lot drive more safely, avert unnecessary breakdowns and brand that long trip a petty bit easier and a lot more than enjoyable.

one. Tyre pressures

The right tyre pressure is essential to making sure that your car can restriction, grip and steer properly. Fifty-fifty one over- or under-inflated tyre can take a large bear on on how your motorcar drives.

Many modern cars feature a tyre pressure monitoring system that alerts you if the pressure is incorrect. If your car doesn't accept this, employ a tyre pressure gauge (these are cheap and widely bachelor) to check the level  before you set off on a long journey. You lot tin can find the right tyre pressure level for your car in your handbook and usually on a panel just inside the commuter'south door. Topping up with more air at your local garage is like shooting fish in a barrel, with virtually pumps allowing you to set the required pressure first.

two. Windscreen wipers and screenwash

Driving with a dingy or smeared windscreen is frustrating and can besides be dangerous. Check your windscreen wipers for wear and supersede them if needed. Don't forget to also brand sure your screenwash is topped up sufficiently so you can go along your windscreen make clean throughout the journeying. Don't forget that this can exist as much of a problem in summer equally in winter, as squashed bugs and pollen can make a real mess of your view.

Also look out for whatever fries or cracks in your windscreen. If you find ane, yous should become it fixed as presently as possible. Small, easily repaired flaws can grow rapidly into big problems if ignored.

3. Oil Level

Oil is admittedly vital in keeping your motorcar's engine running smoothly. Running out could cause costly damage and leave you lot stranded – which is the concluding thing you lot want when you're a long way from dwelling!

Traditionally, every car came with a dipstick to allow you to bank check the oil level yourself. Many modern cars no longer have dipsticks, only instead use the car's computer to monitor the oil level and display it on the dashboard. You lot should check your automobile's handbook  to see if this is the case. If your car doesn't automatically alert you when your oil is low, use a dipstick to bank check that it hasn't gone below the minimum level and meridian it up before your drive. Exist careful not to put in likewise much oil either, since that's also not good for the engine.

4. Lights

Fully performance lights are essential for safe travel, not just and then you tin can see conspicuously but also so that other road users can meet you and know your intentions. Before a long journeying is a good fourth dimension to check your headlights, indicators and brake lights.
You'll need a helper for this since yous can't encounter any problems from inside the automobile. Have the helper stand at the forepart of the car while you turn on each of the lights in succession – main beam headlights, dipped axle and indicators. Then have them stand up backside the car while you apply the brakes and select opposite gear (with your foot on the clutch if it's a manual) to check the brake lights and reversing light. You might exist able to replace whatsoever faulty bulbs yourself but it's more than probable to be a quick, low-cost job at a garage.

v. Engine coolant

Coolant keeps your automobile's engine healthy by regulating the temperature of the cooling system. Many newer cars have a closed cooling system then do not need topping up.

With older cars you may need to cheque the level yourself and top it up if necessary. You lot can see the fluid level in a reservoir in the engine bay. If it's close to, or beneath, the marker for the minimum level, you'll need to summit it up.

vi. Tyre tread depth

Worn tyres tin seriously affect your car's handling, braking and safety as a whole. Earlier a long journeying, check that your tyre treads have a minimum depth of 1.6mm across the central three quarters using a measuring approximate. If your tread is betwixt 1.6mm and 3mm, consider replacing your tyres before your trip.

Every Cazoo machine is checked to make sure its tyres have a minimum tread depth of two.5mm across at least eighty% of the tyres' width. This is well in a higher place the legal limit of 1.6mm. Y'all can read more than about Cazoo car quality here.

vii. Fuel level

About people are cracking to go on the road and make good progress, just filling up with a tank of fuel at or about the start of your journeying could save you time (and reduce stress) afterward. Knowing that you've got a full tank gives y'all peace of mind and could cease you having to drive around an unfamiliar location towards the cease of your journey, desperately hunting for a fuel station.

If y'all have a plug-in hybrid or electric car, make certain it'due south fully charged before setting off. Some too let you to set a timer to pre-cool or pre-estrus the automobile while it's charging. It'due south worth doing this considering it reduces the corporeality of battery power you use once you start moving.

8. Emergency supplies

Pack anything that may exist useful in an emergency if y'all were to suspension down. A ruby-red warning triangle is highly recommended in gild to alert other drivers of your presence and it's e'er worth keeping some spare dress and snacks in the car in case you go stuck somewhere for a while. If you're driving in Europe you may demand to pack a few other items: For example, you are required by French law to take 2 warning triangles, a reflective jacket and a kickoff aid kit in your car when driving in France.

nine. Driving mode

Many newer cars offer a range of driving modes that allow you to alter the engine, braking and sometimes even suspension settings to suit dissimilar needs. For a long journey, y'all might want to select an 'eco' driving mode to help you lot get more miles per gallon (or charge), for example, or a 'comfort' fashion to brand the trip as relaxing every bit possible.

x. Accept your car serviced regularly

The best way to brand certain your car is set up for a long journeying is by having information technology regularly serviced. That way you know you've done everything you can to go along it running efficiently and safely. Many cars will remind y'all with a message on the dashboard when a service is due. If in doubt, check your car'due south handbook or service record to see when its next service is due.

If you want to be certain that your auto is in its best possible shape, yous can accept a safety cheque carried out on your automobile for free at a Cazoo Service Centre. Cazoo Service Centres offer a full range of servicing, with a iii-calendar month or 3,000-mile warranty on any piece of work we practise. To asking a booking, simply cull your nearest Cazoo Service Center and enter your auto registration number.

If you lot're considering upgrading your car to get improve fuel economy, a more enjoyable driving feel or a more comfortable ride on long journeys, utilise our search role to observe one yous dearest, purchase it online so take information technology delivered to your door or choose to collect it from your nearest Cazoo Customer Heart.

We're constantly updating and calculation to our stock. If you can't discover one within your budget today, check back before long to see what's available or set up a stock alert to be the first to know when we accept whatsoever cars that match your needs.

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Source: https://www.cazoo.co.uk/the-view/maintenance/10-checks-before-long-car-journey/